Here in the northeast, the golf season is coming to a close. Yes, less golf definitely sucks. However, this is an opportune time to become a better golfer. You may be wondering, “how can I become a better golfer when I’m not able to play golf?” That’s a totally relevant question, but you can still get better this off-season without actually stepping foot on the course.
1.) Take care of any aches and pains
This is the best time to take care of any aches or pains you’ve been experiencing. You may not have had the time to get them looked at during the season because well, you were too busy battling through them on the course. By having to shut down completely from swinging will allow your body to recover the repetitive stress and strain that you placed on your body during the season. Seek out a trained medical professional that understands your needs as a golfer so they can get you taken care of before the season starts up.
2.) Get started with a fitness program that will improve your golf game
If this is something that isn’t new to you, then keep up the good work and I commend you for already taking care of your body. If you haven’t ever participated in a regular fitness program, now is a better time than ever to start! By participating in a regular fitness regimen you will not only improve your general health and fitness, but you can also make dramatic improvements in your golf game. I mean we’re talking increased distance on all of your shots, improved endurance throughout the season, and decreased risk of injuring yourself! Make sure that you find a professional that specializes in working with and developing fitness programs for golfers.
3.) Dial in your recovery & nutrition
I’m not talking about doing some hamstring stretches and foam rolling for hours. What I am talking about is getting proper rest from working out, eating right, and getting the right amount of sleep. Depending on your workout split during the off-season, you should be getting at least 2 days of rest during the week. You can still do something active, but it doesn’t have to be as intense as your workout.
When it comes to nutrition, I know this time of year can be one of the worst with all of the indulgences starting with Halloween through the holiday season up until New Year’s Day. What I’m not saying is don’t indulge on those days. Because you should indulge yourself on those days and enjoy your time with friends and family. But what you shouldn’t do is let those indulgences carry over into days and weeks following the holiday, which is what most people do. But this is a great time to really learn what is best for your body. You can take the time to really learn what you need for your body in terms of carbs, proteins, and fats, as well as the appropriate amount of hydration. Not only will keeping your body hydrated and giving it the right amount of carbs, proteins, and fats will help you feel less sore from your workouts, but it will help your body operate the way it’s meant to.
The last and most often overlooked piece of recovery is sleep. Sleep is vital to recovery from everyday activities but also your workouts. Your body does so many amazing things while you’re sleeping including regulating hormones, repairing blood vessels, preps your brain for a full day of activity, and so many more things! As an adult, you should be getting somewhere between 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
4.) Reflect and look ahead
If you want to be a better golfer this upcoming season you should be setting goals for yourself. The best way to do this is know what you did really well with this past season and where you need some work. Obviously, you want to attack your weaknesses as working on things you’re already good at will not be very helpful to your game. Think about what’s holding your game back. Be brutally honest with yourself. Is it 3-putting too much? Consistency with your approach shots? Spending too much time in the woods off the tee? Or maybe it has to do with the mental side of the game? Either way, really sit down and evaluate where you need to improve to take your game to the next level.
The point of all of this is that you have probably somewhere between 4-5 months to really improve upon your game while not actually playing. Most of the time, you don’t have the luxury of time during the season to do these things, which makes this the best time for all of these suggestions.
If you need any help with aches or pains, development of a golf specific fitness program, or help with figuring out and setting goals, please reach out to me so we can set up a call together to get you playing the best golf of your life next season. You can email at joe@puredrivephysio.com and we can get that call setup!
